Prices are now 6.8x higher than in 1974
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, something that cost $100 in 1974 costs about $679.47 today. The inflation rate in 1974 was 11.0%, and total inflation from 1974 to August 2026 was 579%.
The federal minimum wage was $2.00 an hour at the end of 1974, or about $13.59 an hour in today's dollars.
The S&P 500 index started 1974 at 96.11. With dividends reinvested, $100 invested in the S&P 500 in 1974 would have grown to about $32,152.25 by 2026, before adjusting for inflation.
Some costs rose much faster than others. Compared with overall inflation, tobacco rose the most since 1974 (404% more than inflation), and clothing rose the least (71% less).
| All prices, on average | $679.47 |
| Food | $631.93 |
| Groceries | $561.38 |
| Restaurant meals | $791.13 |
| Eggs | $329.98 |
| Milk | $380.60 |
| Bread | $712.97 |
| Meat | $611.98 |
| Fresh fruit | $872.53 |
Cost of living in 1974 by category
The Bureau of Labor Statistics began publishing average prices for individual items in 1980. For 1974, these comparisons use the consumer price index for each spending category: each row shows what something that cost $100 in 1974 costs in August 2026, and how that compares with overall inflation of 579%.
Food & drink
| Category | $100 in 1974 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $100 in 1974 today$631.93 | Compared with inflation7% less than inflation |
| Groceries | $100 in 1974 today$561.38 | Compared with inflation17% less than inflation |
| Restaurant meals | $100 in 1974 today$791.13 | Compared with inflation16% more than inflation |
| Eggs | $100 in 1974 today$329.98 | Compared with inflation51% less than inflation |
| Milk | $100 in 1974 today$380.60 | Compared with inflation44% less than inflation |
| Bread | $100 in 1974 today$712.97 | Compared with inflation5% more than inflation |
| Meat | $100 in 1974 today$611.98 | Compared with inflation10% less than inflation |
| Fresh fruit | $100 in 1974 today$872.53 | Compared with inflation28% more than inflation |
| Sugar and sweets | $100 in 1974 today$622.83 | Compared with inflation8% less than inflation |
| Coffee | $100 in 1974 today$699.39 | Compared with inflation3% more than inflation |
| Alcohol | $100 in 1974 today$491.24 | Compared with inflation28% less than inflation |
| Tobacco | $100 in 1974 today$3,427.24 | Compared with inflation404% more than inflation |
Housing & energy
| Category | $100 in 1974 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $100 in 1974 today$807.36 | Compared with inflation19% more than inflation |
| Electricity | $100 in 1974 today$691.34 | Compared with inflation2% more than inflation |
| Natural gas | $100 in 1974 today$1,033.10 | Compared with inflation52% more than inflation |
| Heating oil | $100 in 1974 today$1,490.61 | Compared with inflation119% more than inflation |
Transportation
| Category | $100 in 1974 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $100 in 1974 today$792.80 | Compared with inflation17% more than inflation |
| New cars | $100 in 1974 today$302.34 | Compared with inflation56% less than inflation |
| Used cars | $100 in 1974 today$490.75 | Compared with inflation28% less than inflation |
| Public transportation | $100 in 1974 today$713.34 | Compared with inflation5% more than inflation |
| Airfare | $100 in 1974 today$869.82 | Compared with inflation28% more than inflation |
Other costs
| Category | $100 in 1974 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | $100 in 1974 today$195.84 | Compared with inflation71% less than inflation |
| Shoes | $100 in 1974 today$225.38 | Compared with inflation67% less than inflation |
| Medical care | $100 in 1974 today$1,398.35 | Compared with inflation106% more than inflation |
| Doctor visits | $100 in 1974 today$1,021.59 | Compared with inflation50% more than inflation |
| Prescription drugs | $100 in 1974 today$1,159.23 | Compared with inflation71% more than inflation |
| Personal care | $100 in 1974 today$571.63 | Compared with inflation16% less than inflation |
| Postage | $100 in 1974 today$845.07 | Compared with inflation24% more than inflation |
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1974 worth today?
$1 in 1974 has about the same buying power as $6.79 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
What was the inflation rate in 1974?
The U.S. inflation rate in 1974 was 11.0%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1973 to 1974.
What was the minimum wage in 1974?
The federal minimum wage at the end of 1974 was $2.00 an hour, or about $13.59 an hour in today's dollars.
Which costs rose the most since 1974?
Of the spending categories tracked since 1974, tobacco rose the most relative to overall inflation: something that cost $100 in 1974 costs about $3427.24 today. Clothing rose the least, to about $195.84.
Where these numbers come from
Category comparisons use the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for each category, from the 1974 annual average to August 2026. Overall inflation uses the same consumer price index as our 1974 inflation calculator. The federal minimum wage is from the U.S. Department of Labor, via the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. S&P 500 values are from Robert Shiller's historical stock market data.
Prices in other years
- 1914
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- 2020
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- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
| All prices, on average | $679.47 |
| Food | $631.93 |
| Groceries | $561.38 |
| Restaurant meals | $791.13 |
| Eggs | $329.98 |
| Milk | $380.60 |
| Bread | $712.97 |
| Meat | $611.98 |
| Fresh fruit | $872.53 |